A website claims that it can help you make connections to your past as you learn more of your ancestry. They offer to take you, the customer, on a journey through your family genealogy that will “cross generations and continents, all to reveal the untold story of how you became you.”
For some, delving into genealogies is a hobby. For Matthew (the author of the first book in the New Testament), the genealogy of Jesus—stretching all the way to King David and Abraham—was so much more (Matthew 1:1).
Some of us might yawn at the thought of reading through Matthew’s long list of familiar and unfamiliar names, especially the ones we struggle to pronounce. But a closer look reveals that this is no ordinary family tree.
First and foremost, the genealogy establishes that the birth of Jesus is exactly what the Israelites, all the way back to Abraham, had been waiting for (Matthew 1:16). Breaking away from the tradition of only mentioning men, Matthew also included women—some of whom, like their male counterparts, were not exactly model citizens.
There’s Tamar who had sex with her father-in-law in order to fulfill an ancient Hebrew custom (Genesis 38:6-11,14). Rahab was a prostitute and a Canaanite outsider (Joshua 2:1-21). Ruth was a foreigner from Moab—one of Israel’s archenemies (Deuteronomy 23:3-6; Ruth 1:1-5). And finally, there’s Bathsheba, who committed adultery with King David (2 Samuel 11:1-5).
Why did Matthew include these individuals? It seems that he went out of his way to say clearly that the child whose birth ends the list of this family tree grew up to be the One through whom the Creator of heaven and earth will redeem all sorts of messed-up people—like you and me.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Hebrews 11:1-40
More:
Read Luke 3:23-28. How does this genealogy differ from Matthew’s?
Next:
What’s one special thing you can do to celebrate the birth of Jesus this year? How has His grace saved you from a messed-up state?
Roxanne Robbins on December 17, 2015 at 4:53 am
I used to find reading Old Testament genealogies daunting and dull. Over the past decade, though, as I’ve recognized the significance of God’s work and redemption through family lineage, I’ve become fascinated by what God produces, and is eager to make beautiful, even out of the most broken family trees.
sandy229 on December 17, 2015 at 9:32 am
I too , used to find it dull and meaningless…….until I got a big….duhhh…..this is why God has all this lineage in the Bible …..He wants us to know all this cuz many times He has made something beautiful out of what many thought didn’t matter. Also knowing the connection from Abraham to Jesus…….everybody along the way is so important……it matters. Each of us matter.
Gary Shultz on December 17, 2015 at 6:35 am
I don’t know if the wood was good, but I’m more than happy to let my tree rest in peace. I’m not quite to Roxanne’s level yet, but I do know those names are very important to what God has done and is doing, even if the list is a bit rigorous. One thing for sure our branch will only grow and be blessed in Christ. As the illustration instructs us in John we can move our tree as bad as the wood may be, as those others, to be grafted into God’s family. So move over a little, we be brothers and our tree grows to heaven. That’s the tree as well as the Christmas tree that blesses me this Christmas. Thank you sir, enjoy your time around the tree.
boyerlj on December 17, 2015 at 9:56 am
Thank you for noting that, the “Creator of heaven and earth will redeem all sorts of messed-up people—like you and me.” What a wonderful gift God has given us.
Please reconsider your comment that “Bathsheba… committed adultery with King David.” There is no Biblical record that Bathsheba was held accountable for wrongfully obeying King’s David’s summons. Rather, Nathan the prophet’s accusation and King David’s confession (2 Samuel 12), indicate that King David sinned by committing sexual assault and murder.
yemiks1 on December 17, 2015 at 5:06 pm
Alleluia!!! I love the very last sentence.